Sound-record tablet.



.JQSELPH SANDERS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF ,QOLUMIBLAP SOUND-RECORD TABLET.

Specification Letterslatent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Application filed April 20, 1904. Serial No.'204,024.

To all whom it may,concem:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr SANDERS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful Im- 'both surfaces in the shape of a s iral groove --of even depth, the groove itsel being laterally undulating, and these lateral undulations or sinuosities correspond to the recorded sound waves, which are re roduced from the tablet by causin the smuosities to react upon a style and ia hragm, as is well known to those skilled in the art. I

In a hono ra h or a ho hone record the rodi e is hot of uni f or m epth,,but of varylng depth, and the variations of depth in that case correspond to the recorded sound waves, which are then reproduced from the tablet by causing these vertical undulations to react upon a style and diaphragm .in the manner well known to those skilled in the art.

The material of'the flat gramo hone record tablets is now-almost universa ly a composition of'matter in which shellac is combined with infusorial earth or with baryta, or other like substances. The shellac serves, as a binder for the powdery body of baryta or infusorial earth, and the mixture forms a mass, which, like hard rubber, is softened by heat, but is very.hard when cold.

The sound record is impressed upon such tablets by a metallic matrix on which the undulatlons corresponding to sound waves.

. appear in raised lines. A lump or mass of 4 soft or in adough In order to serve its the record material, heated until it is quite% condition, is upon the matrix an is pressed out into a! disk, in intimate contact with the matrix,} by the application of considerable force and i this tablet of record material is kept in contact with the matrix until cool and hard. I urpose the record ma- 1 terial must be of suc character that it beplaced I comes soft and plastic when heated, so that it will then receive the impress of a matrix, and when cold it must be so hard that it will then not receive an im ression from a matrix, will not elastical y yield to and will not perceptibly wear under the action of a gramophone re roducing style; only to such materials 0 I apply theterm gramophone record material. In this process it 1s necessar or mass 0 the tablet material be used in order that the body of it form a yielding cushion for the impressed surface at the time when the ressure is exerted upon it by the matrix. T e im ression obtained, that is to say, the spira groove, is, under all circumstances, very shallow, rarely exceeding a depth of 5, of an inch, so that it would seem to be suflicient to heat and soften the tablet only at its upper surface and leave the remainder quite hard. Experience tice wili not yield a good impression and that it is necessary that the record material be ielding to a considerable depth and pre erably throughout its whole mass in order that ood impressions from the matrix be obtainerf This is one of the reasons why the record tablets are made of considerable however, has shown that such practhickness. Another reason for this practice- -is that the resinous tablet is rather brittle,

so that when dropped u on a hard table or upon a hard floor it wi 1 crack and break if made as thin as it might otherwise be made. The material employed, however, particularly the shellac, is quite expensive, andfor this reason strength is frequently sacrificed to cheapness. It is the object of my invention to roduce a record tablet that contains on y a minimum of resinous or similar record material, but which nevertheless yields under theressure of the matrix to a considerable dept and which is also very much stronger than the record tablets made altogether of 'the resinous compounds usually employed.

In the accompanying drawing I show a cross section of a record tablet made in accordance with my invention.

In this drawing 1 represents a disk of card board, or other stiff, tough, fibrous material. This is made of the size usually given to gramo hone tablets; ithas a hole 2 at the center or mounting on a turn-table when sound reproduction is desired. This disk is coated wlth .a thin layer 3 of the causing the tablet to retain its shape after disk the record material" may be applied in disk dipped into" that mass or painted with .in alcohol and mixinto this solution the terial, and when the sizing permeates the .record material form a uniform and at the adapted for the production of my improved binder and of an oxid of-a metaL-p'referabIy body. To repare this material for apphresinous record material, adapted to receive, when heated, the impressionof a sound record matrix; such impression is indicated at 4; Since it is desirable to use no more of this material than is necessary, I preferably apply to.. the card 'board or other fibrous base, first'asizing 5 of rosin whichwill sink into the surface of the card board for a distance, or may permeate the card board throughout or any other kind of sizing that softens under heat, that well adheres to or sinks to a certain distance into the card board and to which the superimposed layer of record material also well adheres, may be used. This sizing, by closing the pores of the surface of the card board, prevents the absorption by the body of the card board of the superimposed layer of record macard board it acts as a binder for the fibers pressing and making it more solid and compact, for, without the binding action of the return to their original shape when the pressure is relieved. When rosin, which I prefer as a sizing, is employed, I dissolve it in benzol, alcohol or other like solvent, and either dip the tablet into the solution and then withdraw it and allow the solvent to evaporate, or this sizing can be applied by a brush. I

Upon the sized paste board or other fibrous any desired manner, but in order that the same time thin layer, I have found that it is best that it be applied in a fluid state. For this purpose: the record material may be dissolved in a suitable solvent and the sized the same, so that after the" evaporation of the solvent there remains upon the surfaceof the diska'thin layer of therecord material. I have found that-the layer of record material need not bethicker, but may be tlllII- 212;) than fi of an inch; it is thus a mere The record materialwhich is particularly sound record .tablctconsists of'shellac as a the natural oxid of iron as the powdery cation to t e tablet, ,I' dissolve the shellac requisite quantity of metal ,oxid, so that the whole mass forms a rather thin paint or emulsion. I have found the proportion of two parts of shellac to three parts of iron oxid, gives good results. 4

This modeflof. preparin the record material by dissolving the she ac or other rosin,

or gum or other binder, and then mixing the oxi into it, gives an exceedingly intimate and uniform mixture, such as cannot be obtained by stirring the powdery body into the molten mass of the binder. Another iniportant advantage results from this process of making the record material is that it avoids the necessity of fusin' the shellac or other binder and thus the danger of deteriorating the same by the high temperature to which it m'ust -be sub ected. The aint thus obtained is applied to the sized brous disk either b a brush, as in ordinary painting, or the disk is immersed in the paint. The alcohol evaporates readily and there is then upon the disk a hard thin film of record material. A sound record is imthe diskuntil the'latter' has cooled and the record material has become quite hard.

The record tablet constituted as above described is very much tougher and stronger than record tablets entirely composed of record material, and it receives and retains the impress of .a matrix fully as well as if it were entirely composed of record material,

since the card board or other fibrous base,

particularly when impregnated throughout.-

with sizin yields under the pressure of the matrlx su c ently for the purpose. 7 At "the same time my improved tablet is very much cheaper than tablets which are made entlrely of record material such as the shellac mlxture now used. 1

The sizing described, because is hard U and 'reslsting when cold and softens under the action of the degree of heat usually employed in the manufacture 'of sound I'B duplicates from amatrix of a sound record may be termed thermoplastic which term is also-applicable to the specific sound record material hereinbefore described as well as to other sound record materials of the gramophone class.

When the tablet blank is subjected to the heat and pressure usually employed the plasticity of the. sizing permits some displacement of the fibers of .the base from their. initial relations and furthermore there will be some flowin of the sizing when SOftB J by heat and t e structure is subjected to pressure. The softened sizingappears; to

serve as a lubricant for the fibers of the body material of the baseperrnitting and facilitating the movementof the-fibers one upon another to an extent'sufiicient to cause the base to readily conform to the .grosser' irregularities in the active faces of the matr x ordie or'both when, a. sound record duplicate is being ressed, and to also conform to any lack 0 true parallelismbetween.

of iron brother proper substance; Lt he matrix and *dieflor where" the ressing surfaces are not true planes. Because of this automatic adjustment of the base to the matrix. and die as the sound record groove is being impressed into the record material on the surface of the tablet, the active face of the matrix is brought into intimate contact with the record material at all points and a perfect impression results. i When the sized base has been cooled to ,the present invention, and especially with homogeneous tablets formed of the shellac m xtures now in common use, there is a mass flow of the material which 1s not only wearing on the active face of the matrix, but the dies are liable to dish because, in the manufacture of homogeneous tablets of shellac mixtures, it is customary to apply the mat-erial in the form of a heated lump or mass to the middle portion of the matrix and to then force the hot plastic material .outwar to the edges of the-matrix.

With a tablet constructed in accordance with the present invention the pressure is very evenly distributed at all times over the entire active surfaces of the matrix and die :since the tablet blank, that "is, the tablet before the sound record groove is impressed therein, is nearly or quite coextensive with the matrix. Consequently there is no liability of dishing the die and for this reason the die may be made much thinner and the heating and cooling isexpedited and bandling is facilitated.

The normal characteristics of the fibrous material of the base of the tablet, in so far as this fibrous material resists any marked changes in shape under the pressure employed, redommate'in the sized and coated tablet b ank, and while the sizing imparts thermoplasticity to the base of the tablet,

such thermoplasticity is not suflicient to cause the base to lose its shape when heated or to then flow-under pressure except to the very limited extent necessary to cause it to conform to irregularities in or want of parallelism between the matrix and die or of tablet blank with either of them. What adjustment Of tlIE base of the tablet blank to the matrix or die or both of them may occur while the impressing of the sound record groove is progressing is so limited in extent that there is .no danger of rupturing or tether-wise injuring the thin film of record material on the surface .of the tablet blank.

Furthermore, the record material of the film while flowing sufficiently to insure a perfect conformity to the matrix under the action of heat and pressure, does not flow to any such extent or cause such wear on the matrix as occurs when the tablets are made of homogeneous material.

lVhile the improved tablet or tablet blank is lighter and far less frangible than the homogeneous tablets due to predominant characteristics of the fibrous body material, and can also be'more cheaply and expeditiously produced than can the homogeneous tablets, the brilliancy of reproduction from sound record grooves impressed in the improved or composite'tablets is fully equal to that from homogeneous tablets' This is due to the hardness imparted to the base of the tablet, by the sizing; the composite tablet 'With the sound groove impressed therein being comparable to homogeneous tablets of the shellac compositions in resonant qualities.

The thermoplastic material of the base portion of the tablet imparts such characteristics to the base that the bending and expansion coeflicients of the base and surfacing of record material are so nearly alike as to prevent cracking of the surface film of record material, and warping of the tablet.

While it is practicable to coat only one surface of the fibrous disk with the record material, I have found it preferable to coat the disk on both sides and on the edges in order to prevent warping; and this I do 'whether a sound record is impressed only on one side or both.

While Ihave found the record material composed of shellac and metallic oxid to be the best for the purpose of my invention,. I am by no means confined to the use of these materials. Other compounds may be used although not with like advanta e.

1 do not herein claim'the proces of making the record tablets, since such process is claimed in another application, Serial No.

252,840, filed by me on March 30, 1905, as

a division of this case.

Having now fully described my invention I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:.

1. A sound record tablet consisting of a base of stiff fibrous material, with a sizing which softens when heated applied to its surface, and a layer of gramophone record material upon the sizing, substantially as described. a

2. A sound record tablet consisting of a stiff fibrous base, with a sizing that softens when heated applied to its surface, and a layer of gramophone record material superimposed thereon and a sound record groove impressed therein, substantially as described.

3. A sound record tabletconsisting of a disk of cardboard, having-its surface sized record material, substantially as described.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a normally fiat record blank of sufficient rigidity to substantially maintain its normal shape in ordinary handling, said blank having a homogeneous core or center made up of a porous body of fibrous material and a bond of size permeating said body, a surface substantially as described.

coating of size on said body and a surface of plastic gramophone material on the coating of size, said plastic material being adapted to receive and retain impressions,

6. A sound record tablet consisting of a base of still? fibrous material with a sizing that softens when heated applied to its surface, and a layer of suitable record material upon the sizing, substantially as described.

7 A sound record tablet consisting of a stiff fibrous base, with a sizing that softens when heated applied to its surface, and a layer of suitable record material superimposed thereon and a sound record groove I impressed therein, substantiallyas described.

8. A sound record'disk tablet consisting of a base of fibrous material havin resinous material upon its surface and in its body and a surface of suitable record material applied to said base. p

9. A sound-record tablet consisting of a base of still fibrous'material with a sizing that softens when heated applied to its surface, a-nda layer of disk record material upon the sizing, substantially as described.

'10. A sound-record tablet consisting of a stiff fibrous base, with a sizing that softens when heated applied to its surface, and a layer of disk record-material superimposed thereon and a sound record groove impressed therein, substantially as described.

11. A sound-record disk tablet consisting of a base of fibrous material having resinous material upon its surface andP'inits body and a surface of-disk record-material applied to said base.

12. A sound-record tablet consisting'of a base of stiffv fibrous material with a sizing Zea applied to its surface, and a. layer of disk record-material upon the sizing, substan-' I tially as described- 13.,A sound-record tablet consistin of a stifi fibrous base,- with a sizing applie j'jtogitsf surface, and a layer of: disk record material *Qsuperim ed thereol afand' Ia, sound record groove impressed therein, substantially p Q L 1 "material being applied tothe fibrous'strucdescribed.

- 14. A sound record tablet consisting of a base of fibrous material of sufficient stiffness to maintain its shape, asizing applied to its surface, and a surface of record material sufficiently hard to practically resist to said sized base.

15. A sound record tablet consisting of a .70 the action of a pointed stylus and applied 4 fibrous base, sti ening material rendering the base plastic under the action of heat and pressure and capable, when cold, of

rigidly maintaining the form imparted to it under the action of. heat and pressure,

and a surface coating of gramophone record ing a fibrous structure, a layer of resinous, record receivlng material thereon, and a.

thermoplastic material stiffening the fibrous structure to resist bending under normal conditions of use to an extent to cause the cracliing of the surface layer of record materia ing a fibrous structure, alayer of record recelving material thereon containing shellac, and a thermoplasticmaterial stiffening the fibrous structure to resist bending under normal conditions of use to an extentto cause the cracking of the surface layer of record material.

19. A sound record tablet blank comprising a fibrous structure, a layer of resinous record receiving material thereon, and a thermoplastic material applied to the fibrous structure and imparting stiffness and rigidity-to the tablet blank. I

20. A sound record tablet comprising a fibrous structure, a layer of resinous record receiving material thereon having a record groove impressed therein, and a thermoplastic material applied to the fibrous structure and imparting stiffness and rigidity to the tablet.

21. A sound record tablet comprising a fibrous structure, a layer of record receiving material-thereon containing shellacand having a sound record groove 1m ressed therein,-

and a thermoplastic materia applied to" the fibrous structure and imparting stiffness and rigidity to the said tablet.

22. A sound record tablet blank compris-' ing a fibrous structure, a layer of resinous record-receiving material thereon, and a thermoplastic materialjunsuited for the 'rep mdu'ction of sound" fromxa sound record groove impressed therein,fsaid thermoplastic 95 18. A sound record tablet blank comprisv ture and imparting stiffness and rigidity to the tablet blank.

23. A sound record'tablet blank comprising a fibrous structure, a layer of gramo- .phone record receiving material thereon and ing a sound record groove impressed therein,

and a thermoplastic material unsuited for the reproduction of sound from a gramo phone sound record impressed therein, said thermoplastic material being applied to the fibrous structure and imparting stiffness and rigidity to the tablet.

25. tablet adapted for sound record duplicates having a surface layer of gramophone record material containin shellac and a base or under-structure inclu ing thermoplastic material and means resistant to the spreading of the surface layer of gramophone material under the action of heat and pressure incident to impressing a sound record groove into said surface layer from a matrix thereof.

26. Av disk-sha ed sound record tablet having a surface ayer of gramophone record material containing shellac and having a sound record groove impressed therein, and a base or under-structure including thermoplastic material and means resistant to the spreading of the surface layer of ramophone material under the action 0 heat and pressure incident to impressing a sound record groove therein from a matrix thereof.

27. A sound record tablet blank comprising a base or under-structure of fiber and thermoplastic material with the fiber predominating and the thermoplastic material rendering the base yieldable under heat and pressure and when cold resistant to distort.-

ing forces, and a surface coating of thermoplastic material capable when heated of receiving the impress of a record matrix and when cold of retaining such impress and then resistant to the action ofthe stylus of a sound reproducing machine of the gramophone type.

28. A sound record tablet com rising a base or under-structure of fiber an thermoplastic material with the fiber predominating and the thermoplastic material rendering the baseyieldab ev under heat and. pressure and when cold resistant to distorting forces, and a surface coating of thermoplastic material capable when heated of receivin the impress of a sound matrix and when co (1 ofretaining such impress and then resistant to the action of a stylus of a sound reproducing machine of the gramophone type, the surface coating having a sound record groove impressed therein.

29. A sound record tablet blank comprising a base orunder-structure of fiber and thermoplastic material with. the fiber predominating and the thermoplastic material rendering the base yieldable under heat and pressure and when cold resistant to distortmg forces, and a surface coating of thermoplastic material containing shellac and capable when heated of receiving the impress of a sound record matrix and when cold of retaining such impress and then resistant to the action of the stylus of a sound reproducing machine of the gramo hone type.

30. A sound record ta let comprising a thermoplastic disk-shaped base or understructure and a surface coating of gramophone or: disk record material with a sound record groove impressed therein, both base and surface material yielding under the action of heat and pressure for the impress of a sound record groove in the surface layer, and the base when cold retaining the shape imparted to it under heat and pressure and also being resistant to distorting forces, the thermoplasticity of the base or under-structure being due to a different material from that of the record receivin material but of substantially the same bend ing coeflicient.

31. A sound record tablet blank comprisin a fibrous base or under-structure y1eldab e under the action of heat and pressure, and a surfacing of gramophone or disk record material, the base or under-structure and the surfacing possessing different degrees of thermoplasticity.

32. A sound record tablet blank comprising a thermoplastic base or under-structure and a surfacing of gramophone or dlsk record material, the base or under-structure being thermoplastic to a less degree than the surfacing material. I

33. A sound record tablet comprising a thermoplastic base or under-structure and a surfacing of gramophone or disk record material with a sound record groove 1mressed therein, the base or under-structure liieing thermoplastic to a less degree than the surfacing material.

34;. A sound record tablet blank comprising a formed fibrous base or under-structure impre ated with a thermoplastic material rendering the base when cold hard and resisting to distortin forces, and a surfacing of gramophone or isk record material 35. A sound record tablet comprismg a formed fibrous base or under-structure impregnated with a thermo lastic material ren ering the base when co d hard and resisting to distortin forces, and a surfacing of gramophone or isk record material having -a record roove impressed therein.

36. A sound record tablet-blank comprlsv sisting to distorting'forces, and asurfacing structure 'comprising a normally porous material containing suflicient thermoplastic with a 'tthermoplastic material rendering the parted to it under the action of the heat and 1 41. A" sound record tablet comprising a disk. of tenacious fibrous material infiltrated disk yieldable under the action of heat and 'iinga formed fibrous base or under-struct impregnated with thermoplastic -m'ate11a-l cold resistant to distortin forces.-

, thermoplastic surface containing shellac and I ophone or disk type of sound reproducing of gramophone or iskIrecord material. 35

-:andpressure used forimpressing the record or diskrecord material containing she ac.

rendering the base when cold hard and; re-- 38; .A sound record tab et blank havinga resistant tothe wear of a' stylus of the grammachine, and a non frangible base or undermaterial to ,rnderethe base or under-structure compactible when heated and subjected to pressure and when cold resistant to distorting forces. I I

39. A-sound record tablet having" a base of a normallyabsorbent material with its interstices infiltrated with thermoplastic ma terial rendering the base yieldable under theaction of heat and ressure, and a surfacing 40; A- sbund1record tablet comprising a disk of-tenacious fibrous material infiltrated diskiyieldable under the action of the heat groove from a sound record matrlx and when cold mamtaming the disk in the shape impres sure employed a'gainstthe action'ofidisr torting forces, and a surface layer of gramophone or dlSk record. material.

with thermoplastic material rendering, the

'rejss'ure and when cold maintaining the disk in the shape imparted to it under heat and ressure and against "the action of distorting orces, and a surface layer of .gramo hone a2. A'sound record tablet ,havingva sur. face layer of'material -adapte'd for the re-' ception of a'sound record groove and the reproduction of the sound therefrom, and a ase or'under-structure com rising a continuous or unbroken body of ber and a material rendering'thebase or under-structure resonant; 5

431" A? sound record tablethaving a surface' layer-of ramo' hone record material 'contaimng she'l ac, an a base or "under strucv ture com rising a continuous or unbroken body of ber and a material imparting to 'the' base orIunder-structure resonant quall ties s'1m1lar to those ofthe surface layer.

'44. A sound record =tablet having a surface layer of gramophone record material containing shellac, and a base or under- ;structure comprising a continuous or unbroken body of fiber and a thermoplastic material imparting tQfihG base or under-- structure resonant qualities similar to those of the surface layer. 7

15. A soundrecord tablet having a base or under-structure composed of a "disk of fibrous material and a material a plied thereto and imparting resonant qualities to the base or under-structure, and a surface layer of a material adapted for the reproduction of sound from a sound record therein. I I I 46. 'A' sound record tablet having a base or under-structure composed of" a disk of fibrous material and a material applied thereto'and impartingreso'n'ant qualities to the said base or under-structure, and a sur-- face layer of resonant gramophone material.

47. A sound record tablet having a. base or under-structure composed ofla disk of fibrous material and a material applied thereto and imparting resonant qualities to the said base' or under structure, and a surface layer of gramo hone materlal containing shellac.- I

48. sound record tablet having a base or under structure composed of a disk of. fibrous material infiltratedwith a material im arting resonant qualities to said base or un er-structure, and a surface layer of a groove formed material adapted, for the repfodii'ction ofsound from a sound record groove formed therein. 1

or undei' structure composed of a disk of I .1'o5- 49. A "sound record tablet havinga base fibrous material and a material I applied thereto and imparting resonant qua 'iesto the base orunder-structura-and alsurface' layer of resonant material: adapted for the reproduction of sound froma sound record groove formed I therein and {containing 'a sound record oove.

50; A spun record tablet having a base or under-structure composed of a disk of fibrous material and a material applied thereto and imparting resonant qualities to the said base or under structure, and 'a surface layer of resinous material adapted for the reproduction of sound from a sound record groove formed therein and containing a sound record groove; In testimony whereof I have name to this specification in the presence of twosubs cribi-ng witnesses.

Witnesses CrrA- nrsJAcKsoN,

- signed i my JOSEPH SANDERS. 

